Sunday walks 1 Fourteen Locks

 After himself had joined in on a session at the Velodrome of course!

We had our picnic lunch at the Fourteen Locks centre carpark and had a wander down by the canal. 

Ten years ago they were doing a massive amount of work, cleaning out basins and repairing locks, but they always come up against the problem of the canal running through three council boroughs.....and they don't seem able to agree on one policy and funding regarding the Crumlin branch of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

However the good thing is that, despite lockdowns and all, the volunteers have still been clearing undergrowth as much as they can.  The canal's workings could be restored as far as Fourteen Locks. After that many roads across it have not been put over bridges and the canal water goes through a pipe, so it couldn't properly be restored up to Pontywaun, just before Cwmcarn.

In the middle of the picture above is the western end of the Brynglas tunnels on the 

M4, and the canal runs along side.  The junction with the other section of the canal is just where the slip road from the middle of Newport joins the main motorway, then this canal follows the contour to the right towards the city centre.

canal update

I went on the bike today, despite the cold and wet. It was enjoyable however and saved me £3 on fuel or about £5+ in bus fare!
Remember this blogpost?
http://gzandco.blogspot.com/2010/02/canal-journey.html
I went past again, and it was good to see progress. It will be a couple of years yet until we see boats, but it is getting nearer!
So working upwards:- dammed so that clearing (above) can take place, using ex-offenders as a workforce...and they are enjoying themselves despite the cold, wet and stinky mud!

New lock gates
Arch cleared and mended that goes to..

A filler pond, almost cleared
Yes I DID walk over this!!!! Getting better!!
Next pond up, now full
next lock up
next pond up
Top pond and the Fourteen Locks Visitor Centre and Cafe ( very nice!)
The top lock
My transport!
Much of the towpath down as far as the woodyard by The Welsh Oak pub (see your Chartist history) has been given a tarmac surface and is getting more commuter use, but further down (in Newport County) the money is going towards canal maintenance. There the surface is muddy and compacted gravel, so bike, feet and legs and the bailey (yard) were hosed down after the ride.